Screenwriter Amílcar Salatti brings new reasons to laugh

June 12, 2021

The name of Amílcar Salatti has been registered in important dramatic proposals such as the feature films Esteban and Inocencia, the telenovelas Latidos compartidos and Entrega, as well as police shows like Patrulla 444 and U.N.O.

To that list are also added the television series De amores y esperanzas, in its first season, and Zoológico, in addition to the memorable teleplay Paso firme.

There are still many lives that deserve to be recreated by his ingenuity, in fact, there are two upcoming proposals where Salatti is one of the screenwriters: the telenovela Vuelve a mirar and the series Promesas, both yet to air on the small screen. Each one with its own demands are representatives of a careful taking of the pulse of reality.

For Salatti this commitment has expanded to the point of inserting itself into the complex universe of humor. From there he decided to place the characters of Indira and Miguelito in the series Al habla con los muertos.

It is his next major challenge on screen due to the seriousness that making people laugh implies, and facing a leap like this, after so many successes within drama, it is very pleasing to know the reason for "venturing" into humor.

"I took the risk with humor because it was a concern I had for some time. After the characters of Indira and Miguelito came to life in the telenovela Latidos compartidos, I then decided that if I was going to take the plunge, I would do it with a spin-off of the two of them and there we go," explains Salatti.

"Certainly humor is very difficult," he confesses, "what makes me laugh might be indifferent to someone else or vice versa, perhaps that's where its difficulty lies. One of the many challenges when taking it on from a writing perspective is, precisely, trying to make people laugh or at least smile."

"We've also had many years in Cuba with the same type of humor of a social, folksy nature, and Al habla con los muertos distances itself from those proposals. It doesn't make social criticism, it has elements of absurd humor, some black comedy and everything stemming from a situation that develops," details the renowned screenwriter.

"Perhaps before the artistic fact, the greatest challenge and the greatest fear are alike: 'not being tedious'. If we at least manage to get a smile from the audience, that they have a pleasant time and that they engage with what is being told, then we will consider ourselves fortunate," he adds.

- Al habla con los muertos brings to the forefront the working duo of Salatti-Luberta. Could it continue to bear creative fruit for television?

- "Yes, I can tell you that with Alberto Luberta there will be more projects. It will be a matter of planning well. If everything goes as we have dreamed we will be working on the second season of Al Habla…, and on other long-term projects."

- First time you write thinking of the actress Yaremis Pérez. What final feeling did the experience leave you with?

- "Writing for Yare, and by the way for Ray is a luxury. It makes things easier, motivates creativity and you know that the scripts are going to grow and come out enriched. They are two extremely creative and professional actors who surprise you when they bring Indira and Miguelito to life."

- We will soon have the telenovela Vuelve a mirar and the series Promesas, both with scripts of your authorship. Something in common in such different stories? What would be a next source of inspiration?

- "Fortunately, I think the proposals don't look alike. They don't have anything in common. They are different genres and tones, different structures. Having projects like this come together is always risky, and the reasons for inspiration, well, they appear along the way, with the days, chance, the people you cross paths with, social changes, the lights and shadows of what surrounds me."